Tue, Sep 08, 2009
France To Buy Military Transports Built By Embraer
Brazil and France announced Monday that the two countries will
extend their military relationship with Brazil's purchase of 36
Rafale fighter jets, and the technology to build its own.
Dassault Rafale
The announcement was made jointly by visiting French President
Nicolas Sarkozy and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
on the occasion of Brazil's independence day. The four-to-six
billion dollar deal is intended to supply Brazil with modern
fighter aircraft for the next 30 years.
The French News Service AFP reports Brazil has already agreed to
buy 50 military transport helicopters from France. It's only
aircraft carrier had been mothballed by the French Navy, but was
re-commissioned by Brazil in 2000.
President Lula said he hopes to make Brazil the regions'
military powerhouse, saying he believes Brazil is destined to be
"one of the great powers of the 21st century." Brazil has
also bought five submarines from the French, one which is slated to
be converted to nuclear power. Brazil is growing in economic and
political clout in the region, and Lula has shown a determination
to have a military to match. He said he hopes to maintain control
over the Amazon rain forest and recently discovered offshore oil
fields, two of the nation's largest natural resources. The oil
fields could make Brazil one of the world's top oil producers.
Embraer KC-390
In return, France has agreed to buy 10 KC-390 military transport
aircraft being built by the Brazilian air force in conjunction with
Brazilian national aircraft manufacturer Embraer. France is also
committed to buying the heavier-lift Airbus A400 transport, but
that program has been delayed.
The Rafale was chosen over the F/A-18 Hornet and the Saab Gripen
NG, and the export contract will be the first for Dassault
Aviation. Brazil said full technology sharing was more important in
their decision than the cost of the aircraft.
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